Horse-controlling attachment for vehicles.



No. 814,915. PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906.

A; M. MGGEARY.

HORSE GONTROLLING ATTACHMENT POE VEHICLES. 'APPLIGATION FILED-JULY 11, 1905.

, 2 SHEETfi-SHEET 1.

I F; 1 R 24 H k l 2 zl/A A AK fifty 62X I I I SIM 02. 4101 No.814,915. PATENTED MAR.13',1906. A. M. McGEARY.

HORSBOONTROLLING ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES.

- urmouxon Hm JULYII, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a citizen of the Umrnn srATns -ALBER'-l M. MGGEAR Y, or

specification ai -Letters Patent.

OFFICE.

c-l-n ivon oITY. COLORADO.

Patented March 13, I906.

' Application filed July 11, @906. seriam zealsa v and useful Improvements ;in H'orse-Gon'tiblling Attachments for Vehicles; and I do de-l clare the following to be a full, clear,;and ex-z act description of the invention, suchgajs will; enable Others skilled in theart to'whiohit-ap- 1 pertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures, -ofreference .marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

r My invention relates, to improvements devices attached to vehicles for -'controlling' the horse or horses hitched thereto. V My improved attachment consists of a-device hinged at a suitable point tothe vehicle and normally suspended out of t'heoperative position. When, -however,'-it is desired to: leave the vehicle, the'driver simply releases the hinged device, which-drops to thesu-rface upon which the vehicle stands and is -origi-- nally forwardly inclined or occupies a position with the extremity which engages the surface considerably in advance of the' hinging-point of the device. The extremity of t e device in engagement with thesurface shouldbe sufficiently pointed to catch in the said surface, whereby it is prevented from v a relatively rearward slipping, and as the vehicle continues its forward movement, the lower extremity of the device being retained in the original position in which it struck the surface, soon occupies 'osition. Straps or lines are connected this hinged or Ipivoted device preferably near the lower extremity thereof, the opposite extremities of the lines or straps being connected with the bridle-bit-of the horse -jor the bits ;of the horses hitched to the vehicle. --Now as the relative position of the lowerextremity of the hinged device changes, as heretofore explained, the lines or straps connected with g the-horse or horses are corresponding} tightshed, and by the time the .ivoted c coking device reaches its rearward limit of movement the stra s connected with-the team will be so tightly drawn that furtherforward movement is impo'ss'ble.

Having briefly outlined myimprovedconstruction', Iwill proceed to-describe the same in detail, reference being made to the-acco'm- 7 tion -of the Fig. 4 is-atop view of theclip with which the which straddles the reach.

I i panying-drawing's, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

Inthedrawings, Figure l is-a vertical sectionofa vehicle,illustrating my improved device-inuse -the ,piVoteddevice and thestraps connected therewith beingshownin tWo .posit-ions, one-in full lines and the other in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a ,portion-ofthevehicle and illustrating the two straps adapte'd to be connected with the animal. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a por- .pivoted checking device in section.

checking device isconnected. Fig. 5 isa sec tion taken through the rearaxle of the vehicle and illustrating the clip connected therewith. Fig. 6 is'a top view-of the same. In Figs. 4 to 6,inc'lusive, theparts are shown on a larger scale than in Figs. 1 and -2.

The-same referencecharacters indicate the sameparts in all the views.

Let the numeral-5 designate a vehicle considered inits entirety. This vehicle maybe of any suitable construction and may be adapted for use with one or twohorses, as may be'desired. The rear axle of the vehicle is designated 6, the forward axle 7 and the reach 10. Connected with the reach as 'shown in Figs. 1 to 4,'inclusive,'is aU-bolt 9, The depending threaded arms 9*? of this bolt pass through the'forwardpartof-a U-shape'd clip 12 on op- ;posite sides of the reach. The rear extremities 12 of this cli form bearings for the journals 13 0f; a T- haped device 1 1, provided with a hollow bar 15, in which is located -a coil-spring -16 and in which is adapted to telescope a rod 17, which enters the hollow barand-engagestheispring thereof. Theextrem-ity of thisrod 17 Within the hollow bar is provided witha collar 18. The rod is connected with the hollow bar or tube 15 by means of a lockingesleeve 19 through which the rod 17 passes, the sleeve being threaded upon the bar; As the rod 17 fits closely in. the opening of the sleeve, the collar 18 pre-f vents the rod from escaping from the hollow bar. The device composed of the parts 15 and 17, connected as aforesaid, may be termed the hitching or checking de- Connected with the lowerextremity of the rod 17 in any suitable manner are two hitching straps or lines 20. As shown in the-drawings, the lower extremity of the rod 17 ;is

provided with a staple 21 and-the two straps 20 are connected with that staple by means of a rivet 22. The two straps 20 are of suffient length to extend forwardly to the bridlebit of the horse attached to the vehicle. If a single horse is used, the extremities of these straps are connected with the bit on opposite sides. If two horses are employed, one strap is connected with the inner extremity of the bridle-bit of each horse. Also connected with the rod 17 by means of the rivet 22 is a third strap 23, which passes upwardly through a guide 24, attached to the reach, and thence upwardly throu h an opening 25 in the bottom of the vehic e, its upper extremity being accessible to the driver. As shown in the drawings in full lines, this strap 23 extends upwardly and is connected with a hook 26, attached to the framework of the seat of the vehicle. The point where the strap 23 is connected with this hook is some distance from the upper extremity of the strap when the pivoted hitching device is raised, or in the upper dotted-line position in Fig. 1. Hence this strap will hang downwardly from the hook 26, its lower extremity ordinarily lying upon the bottom of the vehicle, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The straps 20 maypass through the forward spring A of the vehicle or between the upper and lower members of the said spring in vehicles having springs; otherwise the straps 20 may be guided in any suitable manner whereby they are prevented from getting out of position. The forward extremities of these straps 20 are preferably provided with snap-hooks B to facilitate their connection with the bridle-bit of the animal.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved device will be readily understood. Assuming that the pivoted hitching device is in the position shown by the upper dotted lines in Fig. 1, the straps 20 will be slackened, while the strap 28 occupies the position shown by dotted lines, being connected with the hook 26 at some distance from its upper extremity. Now assuming that the driver wishes to leave the vehicle and leave the horse hitched, he unhooks the strap 23 from the hook 26, thereby releasing the pivoted hitching device and allowing it to drop to the full-line position in Fig. 1. The straps 20 must be of such length as to allow the lower extremity of the pivoted device to strike the surface, and in order to insure perfect operation of the device there should still be a little slack in the straps 20 after the point of the hitching device engages the surface in order to allow the pointed extremity of the device to catch in the said surface. As soon as this occurs the lower extremity of the hitching device is prevented from moving forwardly with the vehicle, and this relative change of movement causes the hitching device to approach the lower inclined position in Fig. 1, thus continually tightening the straps 20 and checking the animal. The travel from the full-line position in Fig. 1 to the lower dotted-line position in the same figure will be sufficient to prevent further movement of the animal under all circumstances. Ordinarily the animal will stop before the hitching device has moved the full distance. In order to allow the device to operate without penetrating the surface to any considerable extent and in order to prevent any tendency of the device to raise the vehicle, the rod 17 is made to telescope in the hollow bar 15, whereby the spring 16 is compressed while the device is moving from the full-line to the lower dotted-line position in Fig. 1.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the clip in which the pivoted hitching device is journaled is composed of two members 12, one being located on each side of the reach and each being connected with the axle by a U-bolt 27, nuts 28 being applied to these bolts after their arms are passed through openings formed in their respective clips. The rear extremities of the clip members 12 are shaped to receive the journals 13 of the pivoted hitching device in substantially the same manner as the clip 12. This construction simply illustrates a means for connecting the pivoted hitching device with the rear axle of the vehicle rather than with the reach, as shown in the other views.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a vehicle )rovided with two bearings one on each si e of the reach, of a device composed of two parts one being hollow to receive the other, the latter being provided with a T-head engaging the said bearings whereby the upper end of the device is pivotally connected with the vehi cle, a coil-spring located within the hollow member of the device and acting on the other member which is freely movable therein, the spring-actuated member having a collar, and the hollow member a stop at its outer extremity to limit the outward movement of the spring-actuated member, the length of the device being such that its spring-actuated member is adapted to engage and catch in the surface forward of the pivot, and a connection between the device and the animal to be checked or hitched.

2. In a horse-hitching attachment for vehicles, the combination with a vehicle provided with two bearings centrally located, and a device having a T-head engaging the said bearings, the said device being composed of a hollow member, and a second member engaging the hollow member and moving freely therein, a coil-spring located within the hollow member and acting to throw the telescoping member outwardly, the two members being constructed to limit the outward movement of the telescoping member, the free extremity of the telescoping member being adapted to engage and catch in the surface engaged by the vehicle, and means for connecting the device with the animal to behitched.

8. The combination with a vehicle, of va clip secured thereto and provided with two bearings located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the vehicle, ahitchihg device having a T-head engaging the bearings of the clip at one extremity, its opposite extremity I being pointed andadapted to catch in the surface which forms a stop for the engaging extremit of the device, the said device consisting 0 two members having a telescoping connection, a coil-spring being located within the one member and acting to throw the pthefi' member outwardly for the purpose set ort V In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

ALBERT M. MOGEARY. Witnesses:

- A. J. OBRIE DENA NELSON. I 

